Ranchlands Community is a well-populated neighborhood, situated beside Crowchild Trail along the number 1A highway heading north to Cochrane. This community was once part of the actual ranch lands owned by one of the big four cattle kings and founder of the Calgary Stampede, Patrick Burns, although little evidence is apparent today of the once vast grazing pastures.
The City of Calgary did reserve Ranchlands parkland, twelve hectares upon which both Ranchlands Elementary School and St. Rita’s Elementary School reside. The steep hills dividing the school lots are the last remnants in this community of glacier deposits which formed the ‘knobs and kettles’ apparent on the hillside. Ranchlands was once upon a time home to roaming bison and a glacier erratic called a bison rubbing stone is still present on the hillside.
If looking to complete an entire community area of geocaches, here’s a suggested route:
• Red Rock, GC29JP5 by redsoxg. Micro in a pine tree located off of Nose Hill Drive.
• 66 Guides Explore Ranchlands, GC1BR5G by TrailGuider. Another micro in a pine tree located in the parkland mentioned above.
• Drain It!, GC1BR54 by TrailGuider. A little more of an unusual micro…the name says it all.
• Red and Green, GC1BR4Q by TrailGuider. Yes, it’s another micro in a pine tree.
• 66 Guides Dog Park Cache, GC1BR4H by TrailGuider. A small cache located on a woodsy hillside. Good cover and relatively easy find. Steep slopes.
• d?owk??, GCT3DG by oldwolfcub. A puzzle cache for sports lovers. Once puzzle coordinates are confirmed with owner, ask for ‘better’ coordinates. This cache is a hard-to-find because original coordinates are about five metres out in heavily wooded area.
• The Trap, GC1Y5CY by KinderKen. A micro located in the gateway between Dalhousie and Ranchlands Community, you won’t be able to drive your car through this location. Park nearby.
*geocaches for premium members of www.geocaching.com not listed here.
Is your community full of history and geocaches waiting to be found? Is so, leave a comment and let me know what community you’d like to see featured here.
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